Mono County official named election chief in Marin

A top Mono County official will take over as Marin's registrar of voters on July 7.

Lynda Roberts, who serves as registrar of voters as well as county clerk, county recorder and clerk to the Board of Supervisors in Mono County, will replace Marin Registrar Elaine Ginnold, who is retiring.

Roberts' appointment was announced Friday by County Administrator Matthew Hymel, who said the county was fortunate to fill the key nonpartisan role "with someone of Lynda's skills and abilities."

Roberts, a native of Utah, earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Utah and served as chief deputy recorder in Salt Lake City for nine years before joining the university as an office manager. She has served in Mono County for seven years.

"It is a real juggling act," she said of her many roles in Mono County, where she oversees a staff of five. "I kind of rotate." She added she looks forward to focusing solely on work as a registrar.

"I feel passionate about our rights as citizens to select our leaders through the process of voting, and registrars provide a vital link by ensuring the public's right to vote," she said.

The 56-year-old Roberts, who lives in Mammoth Lakes with her husband, Dennis, will earn $150,000 as year in her Marin role.

Ginnold, a former county supervisor in Wisconsin, was assistant registrar in Alameda for 17 years, and acting registrar there for a year, before taking the top job in Marin in 2006.

"This has been one of the most pleasant jobs I've ever had," Ginnold said, citing county employees, county supervisors and "voters who are so enthusiastic about elections."